April 30, 2013

My mom... an early Mother's Day note for Ginny Mansfield.

Many of us complain that it's a day of acknowledgement trumped up by the Greeting Card Manufacturer Association to sell sentiment.

I'm not sure of the origins of the Sunday in May for Moms, so I'd have to let others connect the dots on that complaint.

Here's what I know: my Mom, Ginny Mansfield, made me laugh. She took care of me when I was sick, loved me when I was unlovely. Encouraged me when I was so sad.

My Mom sang songs with me, hammed it up at the kitchen sink with me as though the two of us were on the Tonight Show.

She did this with me.

And I was one of seven children whom she bore, along with a first child whom she lost.

She married a man she shouldn't have, moved all over the place like a nomad - both during her marriage with my dad and after it. She divorced in 1975 and then lived 19 years alone - or with an occasional child staying/visiting/leaving .

19 years alone. How strange. Her total time married wasn't much more than that.Yet throughout all those years she loved her kids - she was their/our Mom.

Then she passed away.

19 years ago today.

The difference is that during the past almost two-decades she was never alone. Christ embraced her on this day, 19 years ago - and she never was alone again.

She was reunited with her parents, whom she loved so deeply.

Then, in time, my Mom welcomed my son, Nate, and her ex-husband/my Dad, Bill Mansfield. One day she'll be waiting for me - and for the rest of my kids, whom she loved so deeply.

Comments

Dear Dennis,
Bula! from Fiji Islands. I enjoyed your Mother's Day "Greeting Card". Your mother and family obviously very deserving of your lovely expression herein.
I recently saw this quote meant as a definition:
Greeting Card
When you care enough to send the very best – but not enough to actually write something. (Howard Ogden)
You (and your Mom) are shining examples of why writing something is so much more!
Thank you for sharing.
Warm regards,
Gene